Award Guidelines

Michael F. Bassman Honors College Thesis/Project Award Guidelines

The Michael F. Bassman Honors College Thesis Award recognizes excellence in research and writing by students in East Carolina University's Honors College. Theaward, in the amount of $500, is sponsored by the Joyner Library and honors Dr. Michael F. Bassman, Associate Professor of Foreign Languages & Literatures, formerly Associate Vice Chancellor of the Honors Program, and its first Distinguished Honors Professor.

The following guidelines apply for the 2015-2016 cycle:

Theses are to be submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for graduation from East Carolina University and be approved by the Honors College. Theses/projects will be successfully submitted for graduation in Summer 2015, December 2015, and Spring 2016.

Theses will be judged both on the quality of the research as well as the quality of the writing. The recipient of the award will exemplify the ideals of the Honors College of strong character, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to academic success. The winner of the award will also reflect in their coursework and extracurricular activities Dr. Bassman's belief in the value of a liberal education. The Committee may request that the candidate provide a transcript or listing of courses taken.The thesis/project must be submitted by the thesis/project advisor (or another faculty member familiar with the student and the quality of the student's thesis/project work), with the student’s permission, accompanied by a paragraph attesting to the quality of the research/project. Additional letters of faculty support are not required but may be submitted. Students who are nominated will also submit a resume if requested.

Statement giving permission to post the paper/project on the Joyner Library website,and to deposit the thesis in the ECU Institutional Repository, the ScholarShip

Deadline: Entries must be submitted to Bryna Coonin, by Tuesday March 15, 2016. Email: cooninb@ecu.edu

Papers/projects will be judged by a panel of judges comprised of faculty from Joyner Library as well as academic faculty from a relevant area, based upon the area of topic of the thesis.

Papers/projects will not be returned after the judging has been completed.

One winner will be selected. The winner will be notified by April 1, 2016 and will receive a cash award of $500. The winner will be recognized atthe Honors College Commencement at the Rock Springs Center on May 4, 2016.